Collapsible tent frame



y mm H. F. MKLILEW Wmmm COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

- HAROLD E MILLER WWW JRTTORNEY WW. 13,1956 H. F. MILLER 2,770,243

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME Filed June 6, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2 J//// AW I05 W i ,1, W

37 INVENTUR. m HAROLD F MILLER \\\\1I \\\\\i ATTORNEY United States Patent CGLLAPSIEILE TENT FRAME Harold F. Miller, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.

Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,199

8 Claims. (Cl. 135-4) This invention relates generally to collapsible building constructions, and is particularly directed to a collapsible tent frame of the type adapted for use in concession tents at carnivals, fairs and the like.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally front, rear and side walls, and a peaked or gabled roof, the frame of which is all fabricated of elongate members pivotally connected together, and collapsible from a rigid erected condition to a relatively small bundle of the elongate members.

While collapsible tent frames for use in carnivals, fairs and the like, have been proposed in the past, such frames have been found entirely unsatisfactory for many reasons. For example, prior tent frame constructions have been relatively intricate and complex, requiring a high degree of skill and a great amount of time to effect their erection and collapse. Further, such constructions required numerous, relatively heavy parts, thus being difficult to handle, and expensive to manufacture and transport. As a result, carnival concession tents are generally of. the home made variety, being fabricated of wood and nails, which, of course, involve great effort and time to erect and dismantle, are readily subject to Wear and deterioration, and often present hazards to persons in the vicinity.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a tent frame of the type described which can be quickly and easily set up in a staunch and rigid erected condition, or dismantled to occupy a minimum of space for convenience and economy in storage and transit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tent frame having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, which is simple in construction and durable in use, requiring a minimum number of parts, which is capable of being fabricated of relatively light weight materials, and which can be economically manufactured and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top perspective view showing a tent, in erected condition, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view showing the frame of the tent of Fig. l, with the tent covering removed.

Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view showing the component units of the tent frame of Fig. 2, with dashed ar- 2 rows indicating the direction of collapsing movement of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a partial, perspective view showing the roof unit of the tent frame in partially collapsed condition.

Fig. 5 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged and broken away to conserve space, taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged and taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged, and broken away to conserve space, taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a partial, sectional view, greatly enlarged, and broken away to conserve space, taken substantially along the line lid-10 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Fig. 1 thereof, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a vertically disposed front wall cover 2%, a pair of vertically disposed side wall covers 21 and 22 extending rearwards from opposite sides of the front wall cover, a vertically disposed rear Wall cover (not shown) extending between the rear ends of the side wall covers, and a roof cover 23 extending over the space defined between the front, side and rear wall covers. As is conventional in carnival tents, the side and rear walls extend vertically between the ground and roof, while the front wall is spaced from the roof to provide an opening for transacting business. A generally horizontally disposed shelf or counter 24 extends rearwards from the upper edge of the front wall cover 2h be tween the side wall covers 21 and 22. The wall and roof covers may all be of conventional construction, such are formed of canvas or other suitable flexible sheet material, and form no part of the instant invention.

The wall and roof covers of Fig. 1 are distended over and supported on the frame construction of Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 3, the frame construction includes a two wall front unit, generally designated 25, a two wall rear unit, generally designated 26, and a roof unit, generally designated 27. The front unit 25 includes a pair of parallel spaced, upstanding corner posts or standards 29 and 30 which are preferably fabricated of right angle stock. Thus, the standard or post 29 has a front flange 31 and a side flange 32, while the standard or post 30 has a front flange 33 substantially coplanar with the front flange 33., and a side flange 34 parallel to the side flange 32. A pair of elongate members 36 and 3'7, preferably of channel stock, are arranged in crossed relation with respect to each other and extend between the front posts 29 and 30 to rigidly connect the latter. More particularly, one of the crossed channel members 36 has one end pivotally secured, by a removable screw or other fastener, as at 38, to the front flange 33 of the post, at a point spaced above the lower end of the latter post; and, the crossed member 36 has its other end pivotally secured, by a rivet, screw or the like, as at 39, to the front flange 31 of the post 29, adjacent to the lower end thereof. The other crossed member 37 has one end pivotall'y and detachably secured, as by a fastener 40, to the front flange 31 at a point spaced above the lower end of the latter, and has its other end pivotally secured, as by pin 41 or the like, to the lower end portion of the post flange 33. The channel members 36 and 37 thus extend across each other, and are pivotally secured together at their cross-over point by a suitable fastener 42 which preferably extends between the webs of the channel members. While the crossed members, when their ends are connected to the corner posts,

serve to rigidly connect the latter, removal of the fasteners 38 and 40 will permit collapse of the crossed members and posts 29 and 30 as indicated by the respective dashed arrows so as to lie substantially flat on the ground or other supporting surface.

Extending rearwards from the front corner post 30 in a plane disposed at substantially right angles with respect to the plane of the front standards is an extensile and retractile lazy tong linkage, generally designated 4-5. Stated otherwise, the lazy tong linkage has its forward end connected to the side flange 34 of the corner post 30 for extensile and retractile movement substantially coplanar with the latter flange. The linkage includes a pair of links 46 and 47 connected together in end to end relation by a pivot 48 and having their distal ends diverging upwards. The upward or distal end of the link 46 is pivoted to the flange 34 by any suitable means (obscured in the drawings). A similar pair of links 49 and 50, disposed generally coplanar with the links 46 and 47, are connected in end to end relation by a pivot 51 and have their distal ends diverging downwards, the lower or distal end of the link 49 being pivoted by suitable-means (obscured in the drawings) to the flange 34. As best seen in Fig. 3, the connected ends of the upwardly diverging links, and hence the pivot 48, are disposed below the connected ends of the downwardly diverging links and the pivot 51 so that the upwardly diverging links cross over the downwardly diverging links. More specifically, the links 46 and 49 cross each other and are pinned or connected at their cross-over point by a detachable fastener 55, while the links 47 and cross each other and are connected at their crossover point by a detachable fastener 56. With the fasteners 55 and 56 securing their respective links together, the lazy tong linkage 45 will obviously be rigidly held in the extended condition of Fig. 3.

A shelf or counter supporting strut 59, preferably fabricated of angle stock, is detachably secured to and extends between the side flange 34 of the front post 30 and the link 49 of the lazy tong linkage 45. The strut 59 thus extends forwardly and rearwardly, having its rearward end pivotally secured by a fastener 60 to the link 49, and its forward end detachably secured by suitable fastening means (not shown) to the post 30. This permits the strut 59 to be detached from the post 30 for collapsing movement with the lazy tong linkage 45 upon retraction of the latter.

Extending generally horizontally, rearwards from the post 30 is an elongate tie member 61, which has its front end pivoted to the side flange 34 for swinging movement between its illustrated position and a position longitudinally of the latter post, as indicated by the dashed arrow.

Thus, the lazy tong linkage 45, strut 59, and tie member 61, are all collapsible toward the front post 30, as indicated by the dashed arrows; and further, in their collapsed condition, the linkage 45, strut 59 and tie member 61, together with the post 30, are collapsible toward the previously collapsed crossed members 36 and 37 to form a compact and easily handled bundle.

The rear, two wall unit 26 is substantially identical to the above described front two wall unit 25, and includes a pair of parallel spaced, upstanding rear posts or standards and 66 rigidly but collapsibly connected together by a pair of elongate, crossed members 67 and 68. As in the front, two wall unit, the posts and crossed members of the rear two wall unit are preferably fabricated of right angle stock and channel stock, respectively. Opposite ends of the rear crossed members 67 and 67 are pivoted to the rear posts 65 and 66 and detachable therefrom to permit collapsing movement of the crossed members and posts as indicated by the dashed arrows. Extending forwards from the rear corner posts 66 in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the rear posts is an extensile and retractile lazy tong linkage, generally designated 70, which corresponds to the oppositely disposed lazy tong linkage 45. The lazy tong linkage 70 has its rearward end connected to the side flange of the rear corner post 66 and is extensible and retractible in substantially the same plane as the latter.

Included in the lazy tong linkage 70 are a pair of links 71 and 72 connected in end to end relation by a pivot 73 and having their distal ends diverging upwards, with the upper or distal end of the link 71 pivoted to the side flange of the rear post 66 by a suitable fastener 74. A similar pair of links 75 and 76, disposed generally coplanar with the links 71 and 72, are connected in end to end relation by a pivot 77 and have their distal ends diverging downwards, with the lower or distal end of the link '75 being pivoted to the side flange of the rear post 66 by a suitable fastener 78. As the fastener 73 and the connected ends of the upwardly diverging links 71 and 72 are disposed below the fastener 77 and the connected ends of the downwardly diverging links 75 and 76, the upwardly diverging links cross over the downwardly diverging links. Further, the links 71 and 75 cross each other and are pinned or connected at their cross-over point by a detachable fastener 79, While the links 72 and 76 cross each other and are connected at their cross-over point by a detachable fastener 80. With the fasteners 79 and 80 securing their respective links together, the lazy tong linkage 70 will obviously be rigidly held in the extended condition of Fig. 3. However, upon removal of the fasteners 79 and 80, the lazy tong linkage 70 will be retractible or collapsible toward the rear post 66 as indicated by the dashed arrows.

Extending forwards from the rear post 66, above the linkage 70, is a generally horizontally disposed tie member 84, which corresponds to the tie member 61 of the unit 25. The tie member 84 has its rearward end pivoted by a fastener 85 to the side flange of the rear post 66 and extends generally forwards from the latter. A counter supporting strut 86, preferably of angle stock and corresponding to the strut 59, has its rearward end pivoted, by a fastener 87, to the link 76, and extends generally horizontally forwards therefrom. As indicated by the dashed arrows, the tie member 84 is collapsible toward the rear corner post 66, and the strut 86 is collapsible together with the linkage 70 toward the rear strut 66. Further, the tie member 84, strut 86 and linkage 70, together with the rear post 66 are all collapsible toward the crossed members 67 and 68, in the same manner as described in connection with the unit 25 to form a compact bundle.

The roof unit 27 includes an elongate ridge piece 90, preferably fabricated of angle stock and having flanges 91 and 92 disposed at the desired angle of the roof peak or gable. A pair of lazy tong linkages 93 and 94 are connected, respectively, to the flanges 91 and 92 for extension and retraction in the planes of their respective flanges. Thus, the linkage 93 is extensible and retractible substantially in the plane of the flange 91, while the linkage 94 is extensible and retractible in substantially the same plane as the flange 92. As the linkages 93 and 94 are identical, a detailed description of one will suffice. The linkage 93 includes a pair of links 95 and 96 pivotally connected together in end to end relation by a fastener 97 and diverging toward their distal ends generally longitudinally of the ridge piece 90. A second pair of links 98 and 99 are pivotally connected together in end to end relation by a fastener 100 and have their distal ends diverging generally longitudinally of the ridge piece in the direction opposite to that of the links and 96. The pairs of links are arranged so that the links 95 and 98 across each other, and the links 96 and 99 acrosseach other; and further, the distal ends of the links 95 and 9-8 are pivoted to the flange 91 of the ridge piece 90 by fasteners 101 and 102, respectively. A detachable fastener 103 releasably secures the links 95 and 98 together at their cross-over point, and a detachable fastener 104 releasably secures together the links 96 and 98 at their cross-over point. Obviously, the fasteners 103 and 104 will rigidly maintain the linkage 93 in its illustrated, extended condition, while removal of such fasteners will permit retraction or collapse of the linkage toward the ridge piece 90. The linkage 94 is similarly releasably retained in its extended position and collapsible towards the ridge piece 90.

Secured on the extensile ends of the linkages 93 and 94 for movement therewith toward and away from the ridge piece 90, in parallelism with the latter, are a pair of substantially identical elongate wall members 108 and 109. Each of the wall members is preferably fabricated of angle stock, having one flange substantially coplanar with a respective flange of the ridge piece 90, and having its other flange depending generally vertically. Thus, the Wall member 108 has one flange 110 disposed generally coplanar with respect to the ridge piece flange 91 and lazy tong linkage 93, being pivotally connected by fasteners 111 and 112 to links 96 and 99 of the latter link age. A flange 113 depends generally vertically from the flange 110, for reasons appearing presently.

The wall member 109 is substantially identical to. the wall member 108, and includes an upper flange 114 disposed generally coplanar with the ridge piece flange 92 and linkage 94, and pivotally connected to the latter, and

a generally vertically disposed flange 115 depending from the flange 114. Thus, the wall members 108 and 109 are movable toward and away from the ridge piece 90, in parallelism with the latter, upon retraction and extension of the linkages 93 and 94.

A pair of parallel spaced rafter elements 119 and 120, preferably of tubular stock, are disposed in the plane of the linkage 93, each extending between the ridge piece 90 and wall member 108. The rafter elements 119 and 120 each have one end pivoted, as by fasteners 121 and 122 to the flange 91 of the ridge piece 90, and each have their other end detachably secured, as at 123 and 124, to the flange 110 of the wall member 108, by detachable bolts, or other suitable fasteners. The rafter elements 119 and 120, of course, add to the rigidity of the ridge piece 90, extended linkage 93 and wallmember 108, and facilitate smooth distention of the roof cover 23. Upon detachment of the fasteners 103, 104, 123 and 124, the

linkage 93 will, of course, be retractible to permit collapse of the linkage and wall member 108 toward the ridge piece 90; and, the rafter elements 119 and 120 will be swingable about their pivotal connections 121 and 122 for collapse toward the ridge piece.

A pair of parallel spaced rafter elements 127 and 128 are also disposed in the plane of the linkage 94 extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to the ridge piece 90 and wall member 109, and are detachably connected to the latter for swinging movement toward the ridge piece. Thus, the linkage 94, wall member 109, and rafter elements 127 and 128 are collapsible toward the ridge piece 90 in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the fully erected condition of Fig. 2, the distal ends of the links 72 and 76 are connected to the side flange 32 of the front corner post 29 by detachable fasteners 131 and 132, respectively, and the forward end of the tie member 84 is connected to the side flange 32 by a detachable fastener 133. Similarly, the distal ends of the links 47 and are connected to the side flange of the rear corner post 65 by detachable fasteners 134 and 135, respectively, while the rearward end of the tie member 61 is connected to the rear corner post 65 by a suitable detachable fastener (obscured in the drawings). The forward end of the strut 86 is, of course, connected to the front corner post 29 by any suitable detachable fastener 136.

The wall member 108 extends between the upper ends of the corner posts 29 and 30, and has its depending flange 113 secured to the front flanges 31 and 33 of the corner posts by detachable fasteners 137 and 138. The

6 rear wall member 109 extends between the upper ends of the rear corner posts 65 and 66 and is similarly secured to the latter by suitable detachable fastener means. As the separated units of Fig. 3 are each individually rigid in its erected or set up condition, their assembly, as in Fig. 2, will, of course, further rigidify the Whole. Obviously, the wall coverings 20, 21 and 22, and the roof covering 23, may be secured by any suitable means, such as straps, cord or the like, in distended condition over their respective wall frames, and the counter 24 may rest and be supported by the struts 59 and 86. p

In Fig. 5, the rafter elements 119 and 127 are illustrated as being pivotally connected to the ridge piece flanges 91 and 92 by threaded elements or screws 121 and 141, respectively. Fig. 6 illustrates the wall member 108 having its vertical flange 113 detachably secured to the upper end of the front corner post 29 by the fastener 137 and having its upper flange 110 detachably secured to the rafter element 119 by the fastener 123. That is, the fasteners 137 and 123 are illustrated as screws or bolts having wing nuts 137a and 123a, respectively, threadedly engaged thereon. The wing nuts, of course, facilitate rapid manual removal of the fasteners 137 and 123.

In Fig. 7, the nut and bolt fastener 97 pivotally connects the ends of the links and 96, while the screw fastener 103 is provided with a wing nut 103a for readily removing the latter fastener and disconnecting the links 95 and 98. Figs. 8 and 9 further illustrate the use of conventional polygonal nuts and bolts for a permanent pivotal connection, and a wing nut and bolt for a detachable pivotal connection. Of course, other types of pivotal fasteners may be employed without departing from the intion.

While the frame members of the instant construction are advantageously fabricated of aluminum, for minimum weight consistent with the necessary mechanical strength, it is appreciated that other materials may also be employed and are intended to be comprehended Within the scope of the following claims.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a collapsible tent frame which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for pun poses of clarity of understanding, it is: understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a collapsible tent frame, a two wall unit comprising a pair of spaced standards, a pair of crossed members extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to said standards to rigidly connect the latter, one end of each crossed member being detachable from a respective one of said standards for collapsing said standards and crossed members, a lazy tong linkage having one end connected to one of said standards for extension and retraction in a plane disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of said standards, and fasteners removably secured in said linkage to hold the latter in its extended condition, whereby a second identical two wall unit is adapted for connection to said linkage and the other of said standards to define a four wall structure.

2. A collapsible tent frame according to claim 1, said lazy tong linkage comprising a first pair of links pivotally connected in end to end upwardly diverging relation and having the distal end of one link pivoted to said one standard, and a second pair of links pivotally connected together in end to end downwardly diverging relation and having the distal end of one link pivoted to said one standard, the pivotally connected ends of said first pair of links being disposed below the pivotally connected ends of said second pair of links so that said first links cross over said second links.

3. A collapsible tent frame according to claim 2, wherein said removably secured fasteners extend through said first and second pairs of links at said cross-over points.

4. In a collapsible tent frame, a peaked roof unit comprising an elongate ridge piece, a pair of lazy tong linkages connected to said ridge piece for extension and retraction in angularly disposed planes, a pair of elongate wall members each connected to a respective one of said linkages for movement therewith toward and away from said ridge piece in parallelism with the latter, fasteners removably secured in said linkages to hold the latter in their extended condition, and a pair of spaced rafter elements in each of said planes extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to said ridge piece and the respective wall member when the latter is in its position of movement away from said ridge piece, said rafter elements each having one end detachable from its respective wall member for swinging movement toward said ridge piece, whereby said linkages, wall members and rafter elements are collapsible toward said ridge piece.

5. A collapsible tent frame according to claim 4, each of said lazy tong linkages comprising a first pair of links pivotally connected in end to end relation diverging toward one of said rafter elements and having the distal ends of said links pivoted to said ridge piece and wall member, respectively, and a second pair of links pivotally connected together in end to end relation diverging toward the opposite one of said rafter elements and having its distal ends pivoted to said ridge piece and the associated wall member, respectively, said first and second pairs of links being disposed in crossing relation with respect to each other when said linkage is in extended condition.

6. A tent frame comprising a pair of front corner posts, a pair of rear corner posts, a front pair of crossed members extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to said front posts to rigidly connect the latter, one end of each front crossed member being detachable from a respective one of said front posts for collapsing the latter and said front crossed members, a rear pair of crossed members extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to said rear posts for rigidly connecting the latter, one end of each of said rear crossed members being detachable from a respective one of said rear posts for collapsing the latter and said rear crossed members, a pair of extensile and retractile lazy tong linkages each having its opposite end connected between an adjacent pair of said front and rear posts, one end of each lazy tonk linkage being detachable from a respective one of said front and rear posts, for collapsing said linkages against their connected posts, and fasteners removably secured in said linkages to hold the latter in their ex tended condition, whereby said posts, crossed members and linkages are completely collapsible from their erected condition.

7. A tent frame according to claim 6, in combination with a .peaked roof unit comprising an elongate ridge piece disposed above the upper ends of said posts, a pair of lazy tong roof linkages connected to said ridge piece for extension and retraction in angularly disposed planes, a pair of elongate Wall members each connected to a respective one of said roof linkages for movement therewith toward and away from said ridge piece in parallelism with the latter, said Wall members having their opposite ends detachably secured, respectively, to said front and rear posts, fasteners removably secured in said roof linkages to hold the latter in their extended condition, and a pair of spaced rafter elements in each of said roof linkage planes extending between and having their opposite ends pivoted to said ridge piece and the respective wall member when the latter is in its position of movement away from said ridge piece, said rafter elements each having one end detachable from its respective wall member for swinging movement toward said ridge piece, whereby said roof linkages, wall members and rafter elements are collapsible toward said ridge piece when said wall members are detached from said corner posts.

8. A tent frame according to claim 6, in combination with a pair of generally parallel spaced, horizontally disposed struts each extending between one of said front posts and the adjacent lazy tong linkage and being detachably secured thereto, said struts being adapted to support a counter extending therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

